Football game apparatus



Dec. S, 1956 P. FOLGER FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1953 @Ma L,

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NZ UNE ENE ZONE United States Patent O FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Paul Folger, Canton, Ohio, assignor, by mesne as signments, to Joseph W. Edwards and Lewis W. Watkins Y Application August 19, 1953, Serial No. 375,119

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-94) The invention relates to table football game apparatus designed to enable two players to play, upon a board simulating a football gridiron, a game paralleling in all respects the game of football as played by actual players of collegiate and professional football teams.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a game board and associated apparatus so designed and constructed that all plays which may occur in an actual football game may be carried out on the apparatus.

Another object is to provide in conjunction with the game board, a plurality of dials and spinners representing kick-offs, punts, punt returns, intercepted pass returns, line plays, passes and field goals or extra point attempts, and spinners associated with said dials for indicating the various plays.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a board having a gridiron or football field represented thereon, a distance marker simulating the chain used in actual football games, to indicate whether the side in possession of the ball has made a first down, the marker being movable along the board as the game progresses.

A still further object is to provide a small football movable along the board to indicate the position at the start of each play.

Another object is to provide a marker for indicating first, second, third and fourth downs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a miniature score board for indicating the score of each side and the quarter being played.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing and operating the game board and associated apparatus in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. l is a plan View of a game board constructed in accordance with the invention, showing thereon the two triple dials with spinners for indicating the various plays attempted;

Fig. 2 a fragmentary edge elevation of a portion of the game board, showing one of the spinners in side elevation;

Fig. 3 a detached, perspective View of the miniature score board;

Fig. 4 a detached, perspective view of the distance marker;

Fig. 5 a detached, perspective view of the indicator for downs; and,

Fig. 6 ,an inverted perspective view of the miniature football.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the board, upon which the game is adapted to be played, is indicated generally at 10.

This board may be made of heavy cardboard7 fibre Patented Dec. 18, 1956 ICC board or other suitable flat, rigid, sheet like material, rectangular in shape, and has thereon a representation of an actual football eld or gridiron.

To this end, the side lines are indicated at 11, and between them are located the perpendicular or transverse ten-yard lines 12, which are numbered consecutively from each end toward the center, in the usual manner as upon an actual football field, and in the intervening spaces are located the one-yard lines 13. An end zone 14 is located at each end of the playing field or gridiron thus formed, in each of which is the representation of goal posts 15.

A pair of triple concentric dials, each provided with a spinner, are provided for indicating the various plays which may be attempted by the side in possession of the ball, and for the purpose of simplicity these dials may be located upon the central portion of the game board.

As shown in Fig. l, these two triple dials are indicated generally at 16 and 17, and each comprises three concentric circles and a single spinner or indicating hand i8, journalled so as to spin freely upon a concentric, upright post 19. This post is fixed at its lower end in the board 10, and has a spacing sleeve 20 surrounding its lower portion and spacing balls 21 loosely mounted on the post above and below the spinner or hand 18, so that the same will have free action on the post.

The triple dial 16 comprises the outer circle 22 for line plays, the intermediate circle 23 for passes, and the inner circle 24 for field goal and eXtra point attempts. In the same manner, the other triple dial 17 comprises the outer circle 2S for kickoffs and punts, the intermediate circle 26 for punts from inside opponents Lit-yard line, and the inner circle 27 for returns of kickoffs, punts and intercepted passes.

The movable player piece 28 simulates a football, and may be flattened on its underside, as indicated at 29 in Fig. 6, so that it will remain in any position to which it may be moved upon the board, such as shown in Fig. 1, to indicate the position of the team having possession of the ball at the time.

A distance marker, indicated generally at 30, may be arranged to be moved along the side lines 11 on the board, from time to time as the ball is advanced, to indicate whether the side in possession of the ball has made a first down.

This distance marker is of a length corresponding to the distance between the ten yard lines 12 on the board, and has at each end a post 31 adapted to be inserted in any of the apertures 32 in the side lines 11, coinciding with the one yard lines 13 on the board. In order to limit the eX-tent to which the ends of the posts 31 may be inserted into the apertures 32., shoulders 33 may be located at spaced points from the lower ends of the posts for contact with the top surface of the board when the distance marker is positioned thereon.

A down indicator, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, is provided for indicating first, second, third or fourth down, as the game progresses. This device comprises the upright post 34, having a shoulder 3S near its lower end, for insertion into one of the openings 32 along the side lines, preferably on the opposite side of the playing field from the distance marker 30.

The upper end of the post 34 is forked, as at 36, and provided with the journal members 37, upon which the block or cube 38 is journalled. This block has the numerals l, 2, 3 and 4 on four successive faces, to indicate lst, 2nd, 3rd and 4th down, and as the block is rotated upon its journals the uppermost face indicates the down after each play, As shown in Fig. l, the clown indicator shows 2nd down and ten yards to go, indicating that there was no gain on the preceding play.

ln Fig. 3 is shown a score board upon which the quarter being played is indicated andthe score for each side is also shown. To indicate the quarter, a disc 39 is journalled as at 4t2 in the rear of the front face of the score board 41and provided with numerals from l to 4, adapted to be selectively displayed through an opening 42 in the board.

The scores of both sides are indicated at opposite sides of the quarter indicator, each of these score indicating devices comprising a pair of discs 43, each having numerals from to 9 thereon, adapted to be selectively displayed through openings 44 in the front face of the score board.

Each disc 43 may be independently rotated u pon its pivot 45 to the proper position, so as to display any desired numeral through the corresponding opening As shown in Fig. 3, the score is 13 to 3 in the 3rd quarter of the game. Any suitable base members, such as shown at 46, may be provided for holding the score board in upright position.

With the thought in mind that in an actual football game the element of luck, as well as skill, plays a part in the scoring, this game has been designed to provide a well balanced game which requires decisions in Various cases, as well as luck in the spin of an indicator. The plays and final scores are planned as closely as possible to parallel an actual football game.

The rules for playing the game are as follows; players may set a predetermined time limit of 10, 12 or 15 minute quarters. The ball 28 is put in play at the beginning of each half, and after cach score from the kickers 40- yard line, except in case of a safety when the team scored upon kicks off to the opponent on its own ZO-yard line, and the outer circle 25 of the dial 17 is used for the kick off. An out-of-bounds kick should be kicked over with a S-yard penalty. Blocked kicks are to be ignored on a kickoff, and the spinner for the dial 17 is respun and read upon the outer circle 25 of said dial.

This outer circle 25, of the dial 17, is also used for all punts until play is carried within the opponents 48-yard line. A punt going into the end zone gives the opponent the option of a touchback putting the ball into play on the 20-yard line, or spinning the hand 18 of the dial 16 and reading on the inner circle 24 of said dial for the return of the punt.

The intermediate kicking circle 26 of the dial 17 is to be used when a punting play is called within opponents 48-yard line. On kicks in end Zone the opponent puts the ball in play, first and ten, on his own ZO-yard line. On kicks out on -yard line or other specified line, the opponent puts the ball in play at that point with no runback. The inner circle 27 of this same dial is used for runbaek of punts and intercepted passes, where such runback is permitted or elected on option plays.

In a series of downs, the player must specify on each play, before spinning the hand or indicator, what play he is calling, such as line play, pass play, field goal, punt, etc., and find the result of the play in the proper circle of the dial for that purpose.

On a pass play that is intercepted, the opponent has the option of calling it an incomplete pass and therefore a down, or of accepting the interception and spinning the return indicator to determine where he takes possession of the ball with irst down. If a pass is intercepted in the end zone, the opponent has the option of taking a touchback and putting the ball in play, rst and ten, on the ZO-yard line, or of spinning the return indicator and counting the yards returned, beginning at the goal line.

As an example of the above, if a player attempts a fourth down pass from opponents 30-yard line, and the spinner stops at 35yard pass intercepted, by accepting the interception the opponent may take the ball on the 20? yard line, or he may spin thev proper spinner for return yardage. But, by calling the pass incomplete he automatically takes possession of the ball on the :iO-yard line from where the play originated.

Since the goal posts 15 on the board 10 are indicated as 10 yards behind the goal line, as in scholastic football, there is no provision for scoring field goals when play originates outside of opponents 20-yard line, and therefore they should not be attempted from beyond this point. If attempted field goal is unsuccessful the opponent takes possession of the ball, first and ten, on the 20-yard line.

In case of a penality, neither player can be penalized beyond his own l-yard line. All distances should be calculated from the line of scrimmage and should cross the goal line to be considered in the end zone.

The ball 28 is moved upon the board to the proper position after each play, in the same manner as in an actual football game, and the distance marker 30 is moved to the proper point at each first down. The cube or block 28 of the down indicator is turned after each play to indicate the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th down, as the case may be.

Scoring is the same as in regular football, a touchdown counting 6, point after touchdown l, field goal 3 and safety 2. These scores, as made are indicated upon the dials 43 of the score board 41, and the quarters are likewise indicated upon this scoreboard by proper manipulation of the dial 39.

From the above description and reference to the drawing it will be evident that the game apparatus disclosed herein provides for the playing of a game simulating in all respects an actual football game, the players deciding at the time what kind of a play is to be attempted, and then spinning the proper spinner and reading the result of the spin on the proper circle of the designated dial.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications may obviously be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which is intended to be defined in the appended claims.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details disclosed.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, a board having a simulated football eld thereon having end zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football field imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and si-des thereof and lines indicating 1yard lines extending transversely from one side line to y the other throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each sideline to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of vthe panel, apertures in the side lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel having indicia thereon representing all types of plays which may occur in a football garne, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickofs and punts, punt returns and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes, and field goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for selectively indicating the play upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing between ten of said l-yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the sidelines.

2. In a game apparatus, a board having a simulated football field thereon having end zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football field imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and sides thereof and lines indicating l-yard lines extending transversely from one side line to the other throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each sideline to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of the panel, apertures in the side lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel having indicia thereon representing all types of plays which may occur in a football game, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickoffs and punts, punt returns and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes, and field goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for selectively indicating the play upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing between ten of said l-yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the side lines, and a down marker comprising a vertical post insertable into any one of said apertures and having at its upper end a fork, and a cube journalled on a horizontal axis within said fork and having markings on four successive faces thereof.

3. In a game apparatus, a board having a simulated football field thereon having end Zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football field imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and sides thereof, and lines indicating l-yard lines extending transversely from one side line to the other throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each sideline to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of the panel, apertures in the side lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel having indicia thereon representing all types of plays which may occur in a football game, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickofs and punts, punt returns, and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes, and field goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for selectively indicating the play upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football having a fiat lower surface movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing between ten of said l-yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the side 6 lines, and a down marker comprising a vertical post insertable into any one of said apertures and having at its upper end a fork, and a cube journalled on a horizontal axis within said fork and having markings on four successive faces thereof.

4. In a game apparatus, a board having a simulated football field thereon having end zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football field imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and sides thereof, and lines indicating l-yard lines extending transversely from one side line to the other throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each side line to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of the panel, apertures in the side lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel having indicia thereon representing all types of plays which may occur in a football game, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickoffs and punts, punt returns, and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes, and field goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for selectively indicating the play upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football having a fiat lower surface movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing between ten of said l-yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the side lines, and a down marker comprising a vertical post insertable into any one of said apertures and having at its upper end a fork, and a cube journalled on a horizontal axis within said fork and having markings on four successive faces thereof, each of said vertical posts having a shoulder spaced from its lower end for limiting the penetration of the post into the apertures.

5. In a game apparatus, a board having a simulated football field thereon having end zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football field imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and sides thereof, and lines indicating l-yard lines extending transversely from one lside line to the other throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each side line to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of the panel, apertures in the side lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickoffs and punts, punt returns, and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes, and field goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for indicating upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing between ten of said l-yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the side lines, and a down marker comprising a vertical post insertable into any one of said apertures and having at its upper end a fork, and a cube journalled on a horizontal axis within said fork and having markings on four successive faces thereof, and a score board having openings therein and discs journalled on the rear surface thereof and provided with numerals adapted to be selectively displayed through said openings to indicate the scores of the players.

6. In a game apparatus, aboard having a simulated football eld thereon having end zones at opposite ends and side lines at opposite sides, an oblong panel of less length and less width than the simulated football eld imposed upon said simulated football field and spaced from the ends and sides thereof, and lines indicating 1-yard lines extending transversely from one side line to the other` throughout the spaces between the end zones and ends of said panel and extending transversely from each side line to the adjacent side of the panel throughout the length of the panel, apertures in the si-de lines at the intersections therewith of each of the l-yard lines, a pair of dials upon the panel, each dial comprising three concentric circles, the circles on one dial representing kickofls and punts, punt returns, and intercepted pass returns, the circles on the other dial representing line plays, passes and eld goal and extra point attempts, a rotatable spinner hand concentrically mounted upon each dial for indicating upon any of the three circles thereon, an individual playing piece simulating a football movably supported upon the simulated football field and movable thereon at the will of a player in accordance with the result of a spin of either of said rotatable spinning hands, and a distance marker of a length equal to the spacing` between ten of said 1yard lines and having depending post portions for insertion into any equally spaced pair of said apertures in the side lines, and a down marker comprising a vertical post insertable into any one of said apertures and having at its upper end a fork, and a cube journalled on a horizontal axis within said fork and having markings on four successive faces thereof, and a score board having openings therein and discs journalled on the rear surface thereof and provided with numerals adapted to be selectively displayed through said openings to indicate the scores of the players, and the quarter of the game being played.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS l Beach July 18, 1950 

